Chapter 83: 81
A little concentration for a couple of seconds, and I headed out. Perhaps in the future I will do this out of sheer desire.
Having gone out into the street, he began to carefully step towards the fire, trying not to make a sound. With the help of telekinesis, I did not leave marks in the snow, but it is convenient to have telekinesis based on psi. I still can't stop praising myself for my foresight.
When using Invis, the Assassins only had to worry about two things. The sounds they make and the marks they leave. Both can be solved with the help of training, and with the help of metamorphism and psi, I can completely get rid of it. At least in the future.
Having learned about this, a question arose for me, how to solve the problem with odors? Everything here turned out to be banal simple. Even at the first step, prana "changes", and the body also changes after this. The scheme by which Prana must be guided precisely solves this problem.
Approaching the fire, I stood behind Croco and listened to the conversation:
— Phil, taking a child with you is not a good idea. It's one thing when he flies in the skies, it's quite another thing if he's next to us. And there is no need to talk about this "technique". Its mastery is not an indicator," the dragonite said, as always, with truly titanic calm. In his hand was a cup of his favorite tea. Mm, maybe then I'll forgive the cup and sit down?..
- Hic. Here I, uh, agree with the scaly one. Hic," the slightly tipsy gnome had difficulty forming words into a sentence. I went too far again. Even though I know that he can come to his senses at any moment, I still don't like it. Mages generally rarely drink, but on a mission... - even if he is small and capable, he has nothing to do there. It's better, hiccup, to become feathered and fly again," he finally finished and took up the bottle again.
"It's quite possible you're right," the professor grinned. - But you are missing one detail. Calder has been listening to our conversation for a minute now, and you still haven't noticed him," as soon as he finished, his smile became even wider and more malicious, although much further.
As soon as he said this, everyone began to look around at once, in a vain attempt to find me. No, the technique is not ideal, it's just that to reveal such an assassin you need special artifacts that work on a different principle than human perception. The gnome could have detected me, but he gave the control artifact from the signals to the professor.
After watching them for some time, I finally decided to show myself. Having released control of the technique, I appeared in front of them. From the outside it looks quite interesting - the fabric of reality tears like wet paper, revealing the true reality along with me, and it is at this moment that you realize that you were looking at a perfect fake.
I also "observed" an interesting picture. The cold "fog" that enveloped me and became me, and in one moment began to "flow away". This was accompanied by a clear feeling as if you were being undressed. Quite an interesting feeling.
Appearing before the eyes of our squad, I nodded to them in greeting.
- Oh Mother Earth! I almost came to you ahead of time! — Og dramatically grabbed his chest in the area of his heart. - Kid, have you become a ghost? - Having slightly come to his senses, he began indignantly. "The old and poor gnome's heart almost stopped." I still have time to live, yes to live.
- Old? — I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "I remember someone said that he is forever young and handsome..." I said without addressing anyone.
- So I'm young! - the dwarf shouted, blown up.
- But just now...
- Yun! - Og interrupted me instantly.
"But..." I tried to say.
- Yun!
- I..
"I'll hit you now," he threateningly shook the pickaxe (where did he get it from?) that he was clutching in his hands. I just nodded at his statement. - That's okay, that's great. There will be all sorts of little things here, arguing with old people," the dwarf muttered as he sat down. The pickaxe appeared and disappeared. And I have no idea how exactly.
Everyone else was closely watching this entire theater. The dwarf's reaction was too forced, but he showed her how surprised he was. Each of those present here, with the possible exception of the professor, were on the same wavelength as the dwarf, only their emotions were not so bright.
"Well, since you don't have any more questions," Flitwick said, grinning even wider (where to next?). - Ready - fifteen minutes. After the allotted time, everyone gathered around the fire - all emotions disappeared from the face, and it froze like a wax mask. - We're moving out.
Having heard the order, everyone went to their tents. Only Crystal remained by the fire, apparently she had everything with her.
After watching how everyone left, I also moved towards myself. Preparation won't hurt, even if it comes down to banal meditation. Still, mental preparation is no less important than material preparation. Moreover, everything you need is with you.
Sitting down on the mat, he took a deep breath and then let it out. Well, let's get started.
*****
In a small line we moved forward. The snow crunched the floor under our feet, creating an atmosphere just right for thinking about something. It's also great for conversation.
Step, step. Solid snow, no paths or roads. Only small hills can be discerned on this snow-white blanket, but they are not what interests us at the moment.
"Professor," having caught up with the half-goblin, he turned to him.
- Yes? - He answered without turning his head, continuing to look into the distance.
"Why during our "cleansing"," he emphasized the last word with intonation. Although what kind of cleanup was there, that battle was more like the ocean hitting the rocks. If there was a result, it was not very noticeable. "The draugr, who are undoubtedly dangerous opponents, were so, um, stupid?" — carefully choosing his words, he tried to explain his thoughts.
"Oh. I thought you wouldn't ask," even despite the goblin, I'm willing to bet that the eternal grin appeared on his face again. So annoying, but also so familiar. - The answer is simple - control.
- Control? — I didn't quite understand his words. Although, I have a couple of ideas on this matter.
- Right. As far as you know, draugr elves are draugr to whose bodies their souls are attached," a nod on my part was both agreement with his words and a signal for further continuation. - You see, in this case there are both pros and cons. The advantages are clear: stronger, tenacious, more dangerous, angrier, and also smarter. Unfortunately, the latter is the main disadvantage of these creatures," the professor fell silent a little, thinking about something, perhaps remembering, or maybe just choosing words. But after about ten seconds he continued. — By raising the draugr, the Fox gains control over it, but it is not so total. The lich can only give them simple commands - walk, hit, run, and the like. For a coordinated attack, he needs another control, more serious. At the same time, the effectiveness of ordinary draugr increases, because they simply begin to attack more coherently, but with elf draugr the exact opposite situation occurs. They are getting weaker.
- Why? Shouldn't they become more dangerous when working together?
"If you look at it from this side, then yes," the professor nodded. "They will be a much more serious opponent." But on the other hand, all rationality leaves them, because total control gives way, and he cannot show his maximum. After all, this control is based on commands to invest in draugr when raising them from the dead - here he thought a little and, apparently, decided to explain in more detail. — Consider that when you raise any dead person, standard reflexes are put into his body. It is due to them that total control of the draugr occurs.
"That is," I tried to generalize his words. — From your words, it turns out that by taking control of the draugr directly, the Lich pushes aside the mind of the dead man, replacing it with a program that he himself invested. But I am sure that it is possible to combine both. Subdue not only the body, but also the mind.
- Of course have. Necromancy is a very complex school, but there are no fools there either. Of course, there were smart people who could do this," the professor confirmed my words. - But this only works in one case - raising each dead person individually, and not raising the dead en masse. And as it's not difficult to guess, in our case it's the second option. Massive rise of the undead.
"But this requires an incredible amount of mana," I answered after a little thought. "It takes a lot of energy to raise just one draugr from an elf, but what can we say about a whole city populated by elves," and then a thought dawned on me. After all, everything turned out to be so simple, straight to the point. - And this once again confirms my theory. Our recent acquaintance, the dragon, is that same Lich. After all, only they have so much energy for such a global rise of the undead. And after becoming a Lich, he should have simply had a burst of mana," he shared his conclusions with the professor.
"You know," after a minute of silence, Flitwick finally answered. - It seems so. After all, the entire city was raised, as well as its surroundings. Well, now we can say with one hundred percent probability that the dragon is a lich.
Our comrades watched our conversation carefully. Still, this topic concerns everyone. And our conclusion certainly didn't make it any easier for them, perhaps even the opposite.
"It turns out," I continued the conversation. — If the draugr are not under control, then the battle will be much harder?
- It would have been heavier anyway. "Ed made a significant contribution to our work," the professor answered with slight sadness. - But absolutely right. So it will be.
"Then why am I now on the ground and not in the sky?" Still, I'm definitely not your help in battle. "And I don't really want to be a hindrance," I expressed the obvious idea. I myself don't like being a hindrance, but I'm not a help to them. Maybe I can cope with one ordinary dead man, although I am sure that I can withstand many more from the village, but the draugr... Even if this is not the pinnacle of the school of necromancy, it is not the beginning either. He totally can. Cause problems.
"And you won't participate in the fight," the goblin grinned at the floor. "I'm not so cruel as to send an apprentice into battle, much less a healer." No, we'll just test your ability while we have time. Still, it's better to find out about everything now than at the most inopportune moment.
I just nodded silently. There was nothing to cover it with. It is better to immediately check the work of Inviz. Moreover, its description applies only on the condition that the technique will be used with space magicians, and not any other. So I fully support the professor.
The rest of the journey passed mostly in silence. No, small conversations arose from time to time, but the number was not that large. Everyone was preparing for the fight, but it could turn in a completely unexpected direction.
The snow crunched, my legs carried me further and further, and I thought about my future, plans and possible problems. While there is time, it is worth devoting it to a useful activity.
*****
"There's a draugr ahead," the voice of necromancy rang in our heads. Yes, this time we all had communication rings. They were there last time, but from a distance they couldn't reach me, with the exception of the professor's ring.
"Readiness," the professor responded to her words. - "Calder is ready. Croco, if anything happens, I count on you," the dragonite and I nodded to the professor's words. It is he who will have to save me if the visa does not work. He has the fastest speed of anyone here. If there was Ed, but alas.
Having approached two hundred meters we stopped. A draugr stood right next to one of the hills, staring into space. Having examined the space next to him, the professor gave the signal for action with a nod.
Concentrating, I entered invis mode. Five seconds of inaction is a lot, I would say prohibitively long. Practice, practice and practice again. This skill could save my life, so I have fun days ahead.
Taking a deep breath, I headed towards the draugr. I didn't cover my tracks - dead people can't see with normal vision, so there's no need for that. At least the draugr definitely can't see.
Approaching the detection limit, I stopped. It might have seemed like I was overcome by fear, but no. A completely new emotion clouded my consciousness - excitement. I was interested to know if it would work out for us. Gradually it turned into thirst.
I MUST LEARN!
A moment and I took a step.
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